Since Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure from Manchester United with the start of the 2022 World Cup, talk has increased about a possible alternative to strengthen the English team’s attacking line.
During the 2022 World Cup, the opportunity was ripe for a number of Portuguese stars to appear, led by Joao Felix, the Spanish talent of Atletico Madrid.
Felix is not going through his best period with the Spanish club this season, but his position has not been shaken by coach Fernando Santos in the Portuguese national team list.
During 4 matches, Portugal reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup, and Felix contributed by scoring a goal and making two more goals, to prove his quality in front of clubs that might want to rid him of the nightmare of Atletico Madrid.
Will Joao Felix leave Atletico Madrid in January?
After the Switzerland match in the round of 16, the 24-year-old was asked why he was doing better with his country than he was with Atletico Madrid, and he replied: “When the conditions are right, things are going well.”
Felix hinted that he was not comfortable with his Argentine coach Diego Simeone at Atletico Madrid this season, coinciding with the statements of the Spanish club’s executive director, Miguel Angel Gil, in recent days.
Gil confirmed that he would like Joao Felix to continue with the team, but he admitted that this was not the desire of the Portuguese striker, hinting at his poor relationship with Simeone.
In statements to Spanish television, Angel Gil said that Felix is the largest investment made by Atletico Madrid in its history, and that he personally believes that he has a global level as a talent, as a player, and as a person.
Gil opened the door to the possibility of the Portuguese talent leaving, saying: “For reasons that do not need to be discussed now, the relationship between him and the coach, the minutes of play he gets, and his motives at the present time, make us believe that the reasonable option for the club is to look at the good offers of the player, the club, and of course the team.” who can go to.”
It is noteworthy that Felix’s contract with the Spanish club extends until 2026, but his participation as a substitute in 10 out of 12 matches for Atletico Madrid this season does not make staying his favorite idea.
What is Joao Felix’s likely destination?
In the summer of 2019, the young Portuguese joined Atletico Madrid from Benfica, Portugal, for more than 127 million euros.
Although his current estimated value on the “Transfer Market” website does not exceed 50 million euros, the British newspaper “Daily Mail” estimates the value of the player at the equivalent of 114 million pounds sterling.
Manchester United may be interested in including the Portuguese, especially after the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo and the team’s need to strengthen the offensive line, especially since both players’ agent is Jorge Mendes.
But according to the “TalkSport” network, Arsenal, the leaders of the English Premier League, before the start of the World Cup, inquired about Felix after the statements of the Spanish club’s CEO.
And after his good appearance in the World Cup, it is expected that several first-class European clubs will enter the line of competition to contract with Atletico Madrid’s historically largest investment, according to Gill’s description.